Lot 25 | Thomire et Cié | Monumental pendulum clock Apollo with lyre

MONUMENTAL PENDULUM CLOCK APOLLO WITH LYRE.

Thomire et Cié. Paris

Date: First half 19th century.
Maker/Designer: Model by Pierre-Philippe Thomire.
Technique: Gilt bronze.
Description: Magnificent case construction with stepped pedestal, decorated with palmettes. On the
front, a large relief frieze depicting Orpheus in the underworld playing a lyre in front
of Hades and Persephone to bring about Eurydice's release. Then, on the pedestal next to
the clock case, the fully sculpted figurine of Apollo with his head crowned with laurel
and a lyre in his hands. Enamel dial with Roman numerals. Large 14-day pendulum movement
with thread suspension, half-hour strike on bell.
Measurement: 67x40,5x16cm.
Mark: On dial inscr. "Thomire et Cé. à Paris" (Rue Blanche, 1830-40).

Provenance:
Private collection North Rhine-Westphalia.

Literature:
- Niehüser, Elke: Die französische Bronzeuhr, Munich 1997. The model listed and illustrated p.31, fig.32, 33.
- Tardy, Master see p.613.

In his sculpture of Apollo, the sculptor Thomire adheres completely to the ideals of sculpture as they had been pursued in Europe since the writings of Winckelmann. His work shows clear resemblance to the famous Apollo of Belvedere and other ancient representations of the god. It almost seems as if Thomire chose the hymn-like description Winckelmann gave of the Belvedere Apollo as a guide for his sculpture. (Niehüser (1997) p.30).